Isopropyl Alcohol by Direct Hydration of Propylene

Abstract

Tokuyama Soda has developed a new process for direct hydration of propylene to isopropanol in liquid phase. This process employs a highly active and selective catalyst system which essentially comprises an aqueous solution of polytungsten compounds within a selective pH range.The first commercial plant, having a capacity of 30, 000 metric tons of isopropanol per annum, has been successfully in operation since the beginning of June 1972 at Tokuyama Soda Co., Ltd.The features of the process are simpleness, low value for propylene consumption and freedom from environmental pollution problems. These advantages make Tokuyama Process by far more economical than the conventional process for the manufacture of isopropanol.